Waves (WAVES) is a blockchain-powered cryptocurrency and open-source platform which allows users to create their own tokens and launch ICOs. While Waves was created with custom token operations in mind, the developers also plan to include smart contract capabilities by the end of 2018.

Waves benefits from its own independent exchange (DEX) which is fully decentralized. The Waves wallet, the lite client, includes fiat money gateways, allowing for tokens traded on Waves to be exchanged for fiat money immediately. Due to the decentralized nature of the DEX exchange, funds are held in the Waves wallet as opposed to being held on the exchange.

The Waves project was proposed in early 2016 and launched later in the same year. Waves was founded and developed by Russian physicist Alexander Ivanov, previous founder of the Coinomat exchange. The Waves project is currently overseen by Waves Platform AG, a development company who operate out of Switzerland.